Conservative group's candidates found not qualified for judicial positions by County Bar

May 24, 2010 (San Diego) – Judicial races are rarely headline news. But an organization called “Better Courts Now” founded by the late Don Hamer, an East County pastor, has lined up a slate of right-wing candidates to challenge four incumbent judges.

The group’s website states that judges should be accountable, uphold the law and make fair, impartial decisions—yet does not cite a single instance in which the incumbents failed on any specific point. (Better Courts Now notes that doing so would violate Canon 5 of the California Code of Judicial Ethics, which prohibits judicial candidates from leveling specific criticisms against opponents.) 

Better Courts Now’s candidates were not found qualified for the positions they seek by the County Bar Association.  In response, Better Courts Now has accused the Bar of "blatant political bias" and noted that Larry Stanwood Johnson, chair of the Bar's Certified Family Law Specialists Committee, has solicited donations from Committee members for the incumbent judges.  

Police seek 2 suspects in a black SUV

May 24, 2010 (San Diego) – A 25-year-old man was shot in a home invasion robbery last night at 6937 Saranac Street in a college-area neighborhood east of San Diego State University. According to San Diego Police Department, the man heard knocking or banging on his front door. He opened to find a robber armed with a gun. The thief and at least one accomplice pushed the victim to the ground and fired one round into his chest, then robbed the victim and two roommates of wallets and cash.

Next on tap:  A Pirates of the Caribbean Party for Haitian earthquake relief

May 23, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Yo, ho, it was a pirate’s night on the town last night as “Sam the Pirate” Mejia led a group of revelers on a pub crawl through East County in celebration of his birthday.

Best known for his uncanny resemblance to Johnny Depp and the Captain Jack Sparrow character popularized by Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie, Mejia started the evening off at his favorite place for grog and grubb: Hooley’s Irish Pub & Grill in Rancho San Diego.

May 23, 2010 (Descanso) – Three-year-old Noah Hale was found by his mother floating face-down and unresponsive in the family’s backyard pool on Friday. Following a 9-1-1 call, the toddler was air-lifted to Rady Children’s Hospital, but emergency room medical personnel were unable to save him.

May 22, 2010 (Rancho San Diego)—Cub Scouts from the Wolf Den of Pack 391 donned gloves and helped pick up trash around Steele Canyon Bridge earlier this month—all as part of their recycling requirement to earn Wolf badges.

The Pack includes students at local elementary schools in first through fifth grade. Second graders from the wolf Den picked up three bags of trash as well as some items to be recycled.

The Franklin Scandal, By Nick Bryant ( Trine Day LLC, Walterville, Oregon, 2009, 652 pages.)

Book Review by Dennis Moore

May 23, 2010 (San Diego) –Author Nick Bryant reveals a tragic and sinister tale of a nationwide pedophile ring that pandered children to a cabal of the rich and famous, stretching from Southern California to cornfields of Nebraska and beyond to our nation’s capitol. The Franklin Scandal reveals political powerbrokers who had access to the highest levels of our government and connections in the CIA. One of those powerbrokers is Lawrence E. "Larry" King, Jr. (no relation to the TV talk show host of the same name), identified by other sources as the primary pimp of the nationwide pedophile ring.

This book gripped me and held my attention like none I have ever read; I couldn’t put it down. The Franklin Scandal is riveting!

City of La Mesa and City Heights Community Center also among honorees in San Diego's eastern regions

May 22, 2010 (San Diego) – Walk San Diego’s recent Golden Footprint Awards included a special recognition to Lemon Grove’s Mayor Mary Sessom for “outstanding vision and leadership in promoting walkable communities.”

May 22, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Two earthquakes measuring 5.3 and 4.8 in magnitude struck at 10:33 and 10:00 a.m. The temblors were centered 14 and 13 miles SSW of Seeley, California, according to the U.S. Geological Service.

The quakes caused significant shaking in East County and San Diego, causing windows to rattle on Mount Helix.  If you had damage from the quake, please post in the comments section below. Click here to see an enlarged map. 

No reports of damage have been received, said a dispatcher for Heartland Fire, which services much of East County.

May 22, 2010 (San Diego) – San Diego Police are investigating  a complaint of a man who reportedly chased a 15-year-old girl last night near South 39th Street and Ocean View Blvd. in the Mountain View neighborhood of San Diego, located east of I-15 and south of Highway 94.

Donations, supplies also needed to help children who survived quake

May 21, 2010 (Mt. Helix) – Dr. Carolle Jean-Murat gives a grim update on the plight in Haiti. “Only a few people have received tents, tarps, or food to sustain them. Many are presently dying of disease, malnutrition, or simply checking out mentally or dying with a broken heart.”

Swarm may be Africanized “killer” bees

May 21, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – A 68-year-old man has been attacked by bees in the 500 block of Tecate Road. According to Cal-Fire firefighters at the scene, the aggressive swarm may be Africanized bees.

May 21, 2010 (Riverside) – Cal-Fire reports a 900-acre fire is burning in Riverside County east of Corona. The fire, which is 70% contained at 4 p.m. today, was caused by equipment mowing. Full containment is expected at 6 p.m. tonight.

May 21, 2010 - It's a dog's life!  Andiamo-Ristorante invites you to bring your canine companion for cocktails and patio dining on the last Wednesday in each month, starting at 5 p.m.  Enjoy drink specials all night at the Italian restaurant, loaced at 5950 Santo Road in San Diego's Tierrasanta neighborhood.

By Nancy and Dawn Clemens, Dollar-Wise Divas columnists

May 19, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) - Brides come in all ages, shapes, and sizes yet, they all have in common a desire to look radiantly beautiful for their wedding day and to share a special, memorable day with treasured friends and family. So how do you accomplish this on a small budget?

Your first step is to brainstorm with your future husband to make sure you both have the same ideas about what your perfect wedding would look like. Here are some questions to start the conversation.

Prizes include honeymoon stay at Angel’s Landing and bachelorette party with “Sam the Pirate” Johnny Depp celebrity look-alike

May 21, 2010 (El Cajon) – Here come the brides! At last, East County has a one-stop-shop for wedding needs—as well as free beauty services, musical entertainment, prize drawings, raffle, auction, bridal gown modeling, and more.

East County Magazine and La Dolce Belladonna Spa & Salon have forged a marriage made in heaven to offer this special event on Sunday, June 6 from 12 to 4 p.m. at La Dolce Belladonna Salon & Spa, 596 Westwind Drive in El Cajon (just south of Fletcher Parkway in the Fletcher Hills area.) The event is free to the public and fun for everyone.